Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
adjuvant therapy
Treatment given after primary surgery to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
Full Definition
Adjuvant therapy refers to additional treatment administered following the primary surgical removal of a breast tumor. The goal is to eliminate any remaining microscopic cancer cells that may not be detectable but could potentially cause recurrence. Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or radiation therapy, depending on tumor characteristics and patient factors. Treatment decisions are based on prognostic and predictive factors including tumor size, lymph node status, hormone receptor status, and HER2 expression.
Usage
Usage note: Contrast with neoadjuvant therapy, which is given before surgery.
In Context
- "The patient will receive adjuvant chemotherapy followed by endocrine therapy for five years." — Treatment plan
- "Adjuvant therapy recommendations were based on the 21-gene recurrence score results." — Oncology consultation
Also known as
adjuvant treatment
Contrasted with
neoadjuvant therapy
palliative therapy
Don't confuse with
neoadjuvant therapy
concurrent therapy